Can opener



Feb. 7, 1967 J. H. CARTER v 3,302,283

CAN OPENER Filed Feb. 15, 1965 I 3 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 7, 1967 I J. H. CARTER 3,302,283

CAN OPENER Filed Feb. 15, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 7, 1967 J. H. CARTER 3,302,283

CAN OPENER Filed Feb. 15, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheetv 3 United States Fatent G 3,302,283 CAN OPENER Joseph H. Carter, 1960 11th St., Rockford, Ill. 61108 Filed Feb. 15, 1965, Ser. No. 432,649 8 Claims. (Cl. 30-155) This invention relates to opening devices for containers of the type comprising a metal or composite body having a metal cover or end member double seamed thereto to provide a fluid-tight joint, such containers being commonly used for foods and other commodities. The present invention provides an opener of the general typeset forth in the patent to Clarence I. Smith No. 3,094,776, dated June 25, 1963, upon which the present structure comprises an improvement. The opener of the present invention is particularly adapted for opening containers of the type set forth in the patent to Peter Bogner No. 3,139,211, dated June 30, 1964. However, by reason of the features provided by the present invention the opener may also be satisfactorily used for the opening of containers provided with conventional double seamed covers or ends.

In openers of the type set forth in said patent to Clarence J. Smith No. 3,094,776, the opener is adapted for the severing of the cover hook of the container end by cutting through the outer side wall thereof. In openers of this type particular difficulty is encountered in effecting an accurate positioning of the cutter member, so that the cover hook will be severed at the proper location, while still providing an opener which will not be unduly diflicult to turn, and which will at the same time not slip upwardly and off from the end of the container. The problem is rendered more difficult by reason of the fact that it is desirable that the same opener be adapted for opening containers of different diameter and of different peripheral shape, thus providing varying conditions to which the opener is subjected in use.

It is accordingly one of the objects of the present 1nvention to provide an opener of the type defined which will be reliable in operation, and which in particular Wlll not inadvertently slip upwardly and away from the surface to be cut, and which will at the same time notbe unduly hard to operate, and which will properly P08111011 the cutter member at the optimum cutting P08111011.

A further object of the invention is to provide an opener of the type set forth which may be more readily applied to the container for opening, and which Wlll adapt itself to containers of different size and of different peripheral contours.

A still further object of the invention 15 to provide an opener of the type defined wherein the cutter member or wheel will be more readilyvcontrolled, in its moveto like parts throughout:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a can opener constructed in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention, in accordance with one preferred and selected embodiment thereof;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the can opener structure shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial top view of the can opener structure of FIG. 1 with the handle member removed to more particularly illustrate certain of the operating parts, the cutter member or wheel being shown in withdrawn position, viz., the position assumed as the opener is initially applied to a container to be opened;-

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but showing the cutter wheel in cutting position;

FIG. 3A is a view similar to FIGS. 3 and 4 of the main frame bracket more particularly illustrating the shape of the cutter control slot formed therein;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure of FIG. 4, on the line 55 thereof;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the structure of FIG. 3 on the line 66 thereof;

FIG. 7 is an illustrative side view showing the opener in use with reference to a container of predetermined standard size;

FIG. 8 is a view of the structure of FIG. 7 taken at right angles thereto;

FIG. 9 is a top view of the structures of FIGS. 7 and 8;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 7 illustrating the opener in use on a can or container of predetermined larger size;

FIG. 11 is a view of the structure of FIG. 10 taken at right angles thereto; and

FIG. 12 is a top view of the structures of FIGS. 10

Q and 11, similar to FIG. 9, but showing the opener in use nection when the rivet is in the smaller part of the keyrnent to and from cutting position, such operation being effected by the use of relatively simple and inexpensive parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide an 1mproved bracket mounting for an opener of the type defined.

Still further objects of the invention, more generally stated, are to provide an opener for containers as defined which is of low cost, and of reliable operation, and which may be utilized either with containers especially adapted for side opening, as in said Bogner Patent No. 3,139,211, or for containers or tin cans provided with conventional double seamed ends.

Various other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the following specification when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred embodiment is set fort-h for purposes of illustration.

hole opening, and a removable connection when the rivet is moved into the larger keyhole opening portion. It will be seen that the opener frame bracket 10 is so shaped, as indicated at 18, that when the rivet or stud 14 is in the position shown in FIG. 1, the frame bracket 10 may be moved from the position shown in FIG. 1 counterclockwise through an arc of ninety degrees so as to bring the frame bracket into horizontal position against the wall 20, to which the wall bracket 12 may be advantageously secured by suitable means, such as screws 22. The wall bracket is further provided with a ledge support 24, L- shaped in cross section, the portion 26 of the frame bracket 10 being adapted to slip beneath the horizontal ledge portion of the bracket 24, when the parts are in the position shown in FIG. 1, so as to properly support the frame bracket 10 of the opener in operative position. The opener frame bracket 10 may further be provided with an upwardly struck dished portion 28 into which a ball 30 is resiliently urged by a leaf spring 32 when the opener frame bracket is in operative position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. As will be understood, the leaf spring 32, ball 30, and recess 28 thus provide a releasable detent means for releasably holding the frame bracket in operative position when moved thereto, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

As best showin in FIGS. 5 and 6, the opener mechanism comprises a cutter pintle, generally indicated by the reference numeral 34, and a backup pintle, generally indicated by the reference numeral 36.

More particularly, the cutter pintle comprises a pintle member 38 having a lower conically shaped portion 40, FIG. 5, adapted to engage the side wall 42 of a container to be opened, a conical flange portion 44, also adapted to engage the side wall of the container at a point more closely adjacent the container cover 46, and an upwardly projecting portion terminating in a threaded end 48. Fixed to the pintle 38 is a sleeve member 50 which carries the cutter wheel 52, and has press-fitted thereon a flange member 54 and a gear wheel 56. The upper end of the sleeve member 50 projects through an opening 58 formed in the main frame 10, the shape of which is best shown in FIG. 3A. The sleeve 50 is further formed above the portion which projects through the opening 58 with flattened portions 60, FIGS. 4 and 5, which flattened portions are arranged non-rotatably to receive a cam member 62, FIG. 4, and a crank member 64, FIG. 1, carrying a handle portion 66 at its end. It will be seen that by this means the cam 62 and the handle 64 are non-rotatably mounted on the upper end of the cutter sleeve 50, which is in turn non-rotatably mounted upon the pintle 38. The cam member 62 and handle 64 are retained in position on the upper end of the sleeve by means of a nut 68 threaded onto the pintle portion 48. Formed on the supper face of the main frame is a stop lug 70, FIG. 4, cooperable with the stepped portion 72 of the cam 62, for a purpose later to be described.

The pintle structure 36 more specifically comprises a threaded stud 74 riveted to the main frame 10, to which is threadedly secured a conical nut 76. Nut 76 tightly engages frame 10, and the stud 74 and nut 76 are thus both non-rotatably mounted in respect to the frame member 10.

Rotatably mounted upon the nut 76 is a sleeve structure comprising a sleeve member 78 having a flange 80, and sleeve member 78 non-rotatably carries a gear wheel 82, arranged to have toothed engagement with the gear Wheel 56 of the pintle structure 34. As shown in FIG. 5, an O-ring 84 is carried by the conical nut 76 in a position to provide predetermined frictional engagement with the sleeve 78, so as to provide a controlled frictional resistance to the rotational movement thereof.

As is shown by the drawings, pintles 34 and 36 are perpendicular to the outer end of frame member 10, but such end is twisted or bent from the main horizontal frame portion to properly hold the can body in essentially vertical position during the opening operation.

In the operation of the structure so far described, normally the crank 64 is in its home position a few degrees counterclockwise from the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, with the stepped portion 72 of the cam 62 in engagement with the stop 70, and the pintle structure 34 in the leftward end of the slot 58, as shown in FIG. 3, whereby the cutter wheel 52 and the sleeve 78, which functions as a backup roll for the cutter, are in separated position to receive the double seam of the can body 42 and a cover 46 therebetween.

As the crank 64 is rotated clockwise from such home position to the position seen in FIG. 1, the frictional resistance to rotation of gear 82 by reason of the O-ring 84 causes the pintle structure 34 to be moved through the reaction of gears 56 and 82 from the position of FIG. 3 to the position of FIG. 4, viz., to be moved over the central hump to the rightward end of the cam slot 58, so as to bring the cutter 52 and the backup roll or sleeve 78 into juxtaposed position to effect a cutting operation, as indicated in FIG. 5. Continued clockwise rotation of the crank maintains such relationship and effects continued rotation of the pintle structure 34 thus rotating the cutter wheel 52, which through the gearing 56 and 82 causes companion rotation of the backup sleeve 78, so as to rotatably drive the container and effect a cutting of the double seam structure of the container, as shown in FIG. 5. The dive angle, previously mentioned, holds the cutter in proper cutting engagement with the can seam.

After the cutting operation has been completed, and upon reverse or counterclockwise rotation of the crank 64, the frictional resistance of the O-ri-ng 84 through gears 56 and 82 causes the pintle structure 34 immediately to be urged toward the leftward end of the slot 58, and as the recessed or cut away section 86 of the cam 62 comes adjacent the stop member 70, such leftward movement of the pintle structure 34 within the slot is permitted, until the cam ledge or step 72 engages the stop 70 whereupon further counterclockwise rotation of the crank is prevented and the crank is thus stopped when it has reached its terminal or home position, with the cutter and backup roll in separated position, as shown in FIG. 6, and in FIG. 3.

It will be seen that by reason of the structures provided, and particularly by reason of the continuous frictional resistance of the O-ring 84, the cutter 52 and backup sleeve or roll 78 will be brought toward each other to effect the cutting operation immediately upon the initial clockwise rotation of the crank 64, and held in such position continuously during continued clockwise rotation of the crank; but upon counterclockwise crank rotation, upon the completion of not more than one revolution, the cutter and backup sleeve are returned by the frictional resistance of the O-ring into separated relation. The only times when the pintle structure 34 is shifted within the slot 58 of the main =f-rame 10 is at the initiation and termination of the cutting operation, and the action is promptly effected in both instances.

Referring further to the drawings, it will be seen that the structure further includes a resilient spring wire 8, FIG. 1, secured at one end 90 to the underside of the main frame by means of a stud or rivet 92, and having its other end 94 free and overlying a ledge portion 96 formed at the end of a flange 98 formed :as a part of the main frame 10, as best shown in FIGS. 8 and 12 of the drawings.

By reference to the top view, FIG. 9, it will be seen that when the opener is in use upon a can, one portion of the can cover engages the spring member 88 adjacent the fixed end thereof, and the other portion of the can cover engages the spring adjacent the free resilient end =94, these two cantact points determining the dive angle of the cutter and the location at which the cutter wheel will engage the can seam to be cut. It has been found that different conditions are encountered in the opening of containers or cans of different size and of different shape. Thus if fixed contact points are arranged for proper engagement with a can of smaller size, to bring and hold the cutter wheel in proper position, difficulty is encountered when the opener is used with a container of different size, there being a tendency for the cutter wheel to dive downwardly of the can, thus causing the opener to work unduly hard, or a tendency for the cutter wheel to slip upwardly and off from the can end at the side seam, depending upon the conditions encountered.

The use of the resilient engagement wire 88 provided by the present invention avoids these difficulties, viz., the resilient wire permits the cutter to find its own proper position, and to be moved to and be maintained in the proper cutting position for cans of different sizes and shapes. Thus it will be seen by reference to FIGS. 8 :and 11 that when the opener is used with a larger container or can, as seen in FIG. 11, the free end 94 of the resilient wire 88 may be flexed upwardly, away from ledge 96 to provide a space 100, as compared with the position of the end 94 when the opener is used with a smaller can, as seen in FIG. 8, the flexible Wire 88 thus permitting the cutter wheel to be positioned at the optimum height and dive angle for optimum cutting conditions. Cans of different size and shape may be opened, the cutter being maintained at the proper dive angle and vertical height so as to preclude the cutter from slipping upwardly off of the seam, while at the same time not diving unduly to provide for unduly hard turning of the crank, with resulting excessive wear.

Another reason for the spring 88 is that the person openin the can may use a certain amount of force to spring the wire away from the frame 96 to create extra dive for the cutter and drive roller 78 when the construction of the can cover has more than normal taper of the countersink, or the thickness of the seam is greater than standard.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the specific embodiment shown without departing from the spirit of the invention. The invention is accordingly not to be limited to the particular embodiment shown and described, but only as indicated in the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. An opener mechanism for cutting the end seam of a container, said mechanism comprising a first pintle having bearing means thereon, a cutter roll journalled on said bearing means, a second pintle having bearing means thereon, a backup roll journalled on said bearing means, and actuating means for moving said pintles relatively toward and away from each other to move said rolls relatively toward and away from each other to effect a seam cutting operation, said actuating means including a friction device disposed between the backup roll and its cooperative bearing means for imparting predetermined friction to rotation of a least one of said rolls.

2. An opener mechanism for cutting the end seam of a container, said mechanism comprising a first pintle having hearing means thereon, a cutter roll journalled on said bearing means, a second pintle having hearing means thereon, a backup roll journalled on said bearing means, and actuating means for moving said pintles relatively toward and away from each other to move said rolls relatively toward and away from each other to effect a seam cutting operation, said actuating means including a friction device disposed between the backup roll and its cooperative bearing means for imparting perdetermined friction to rotation of at least one of said rolls, and a cam member for controlling the action of said actuating means.

3. An opener mechanism for cutting the end seam of a container, said mechanism comprising a first pintle having bearing means thereon, .a cutter roll journalled on said bearing means, a second pintle having bearing means thereon, a backup roll journalled on said bearing means,

and actuating means for moving said pintles relatively toward and away from each other to move said rolls relatively toward and away from each other to effect a seam cutting operation, said actuating means including a friction device disposed between the backup roll and its cooperative bearing means for imparting predetermined friction to rotation of at least one of said rolls, and a cam member having a first portion for controlling the movement of the pintles toward each other and a second portion for arresting movement of the pintles,

4. An opener mechanism for cutting the end seam of a container, said mechanism comprising a first pintle, a cutter roll thereon, a second pintle, a backup roll thereon, and actuating means for moving said pintles relatively toward and away from each other to move said rolls relatively toward and away from each other to effect a seam cutting operation, said actuating means including a friction device for imparting predetermined friction to rotation of at least one of said rolls, and a cam member having a first portion for controlling the movement of the pintles toward each other and a second portion for arresting movement of the pintles, said friction device including an O-ring mounted on one of said pintles for resisting rotation thereof.

5. An opener mechanism for cutting the end seam of a container, said mechanism comprising a first pintle, a cutter roll thereon, a second pintle, a backup roll thereon, means for operating said rolls, means for moving said pintles toward and away from each other transversely of the container aXis to move said rolls toward and away from each other, and means for positioning the cutter roll in respect to the end seam, said positioning means including a resilient member engageable with the container end, said resilient member being flexible in a direction substantially coaxial of said pintles to accommodate shifting movements of the pintle axes relative to the container axis during the operation of said rolls.

6. An opener mechanism as defined in claim 5, wherein said resilient member comprises a resilient wire secured at one end to the opener mechanism and freely floating at its other end.

7. An opener mechanism for cutting the end seam of a container, said mechanism comprising a frame, a bracket pivotally connected to said frame at one end, a first pintle carried by the frame at its other end, a cutter roll thereon, a second pintle carried by the frame adjacent the first pintle, a backup roll thereon, means for rotating said rolls, and means including a friction device for imparting friction to rotational movement of at least one of said pintles and a cam actuated thereby for moving said pintles relatively toward and away from each other and for operating said rolls to effect a seam cutting operation.

8. An opener mechanism as defined in claim 7, wherein said bracket is provided with a keyhole slot and a frame is provided with a stud member rotatably mounted therein.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,573,969 2/1926 Killman 309 2,074,094 3/1937 Rush 30- 8.5 3,094,776 6/ 1963 Smith 30-15.5

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

G. WEIDENFELD, Assistant Examiner.

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Attesting Officer um'nw b'TA'lEb PATENT ur'mcm CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,302,283 February 7, 1967 Joseph H. Carter It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 3, line 28 for "supper" read upper column 4, line 34, for "8" read 88 line 46, for "cantact" read H contact column 5, line 29, for "a" read at column 6, line 39, after "imparting" insert uniform Signed and sealed this 17th day of October 1967.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER Commissioner of Patents 

1. AN OPENER MECHANISM FOR CUTTING THE END SEAM OF A CONTAINER, SAID MECHANISM COMPRISING A FIRST PINTLE HAVING BEARING MEANS THEREON, A CUTTER ROLL JOURNALLED ON SAID BEARING MEANS, A SECOND PINTLE HAVING BEARING MEANS THEREON, A BACKUP ROLL JOURNALLED ON SAID BEARING MEANS, AND ACTUATING MEANS FOR MOVING SAID PINTLES RELATIVELY TOWARD AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER TO MOVE SAID ROLLS RELATIVELY TOWARD AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER TO EFFECT A SEAM CUTTING OPERATION, SAID ACTUATING MEANS INCLUDING A FRICTION DEVICE DISPOSED BETWEEN THE BACKUP ROLL AND ITS COOPERATIVE BEARING MEANS FOR IMPARTING PREDETERMINED FRICTION TO ROTATION OF A LEAST ONE OF SAID ROLLS. 